Chapter 608: Choosing a Cultivation Method, the Path to Advancement

On the plaque above the rear mountain cave residence, the three characters “Yunque Residence” were carved. With that, Wei Tu officially settled into Linglong Peak of the Jishan Sect.

That night, Wei Tu received two things: an invitation from Hall Master Luo for a family banquet, and a formal state-level congratulatory letter and gift delivered by Nangong Zhe on behalf of Lüqiu Qingfeng.

"Lüqiu Qingfeng has made some progress."

After reading the letter, Wei Tu thought to himself.

He had assumed that concealing the fact that Hall Master Luo recommended him as an Elder of Offering in the Jishan Sect would spark dissatisfaction from Lüqiu Qingfeng, his ally of convenience.

Unexpectedly, she took the initiative to show goodwill today, sending him congratulations.

After all, strictly speaking, his actions could be seen as “using public matters for personal gain,” leveraging the Lüqiu Clan’s business to benefit himself.

Though he knew he earned Hall Master Luo’s favor by his own merit, outsiders might not see it that way.

So before the dust settled, it wasn’t wise for him to be frank with Lüqiu Qingfeng.

Her approval of him becoming an Elder of Offering was not guaranteed.

Their connection was based only on shared interests, not deep friendship.

In short—

Caution against betrayal was necessary. He kept silent before because he feared Lüqiu Qingfeng might ruin things.

"Does the Princess have any other words to pass along?"

Wei Tu put down the letter and looked at Nangong Zhe, who was visibly uneasy in the guest hall of his cave residence.

Though an Elder of the Jishan Sect wasn’t much to the Lüqiu Clan, for Nangong Zhe, a servant of Lüqiu Qingfeng, Wei Tu’s presence carried a heavy pressure.

"Replying to Elder Wei," Nangong Zhe said after pausing, "Her Highness said she has always trusted Elder Wei’s character. Ten years ago, Elder Wei kept his promise and returned to Yuangjun Island on time. She believes you will do the same today."

"Trust my character, and expect the same today?"

Wei Tu raised an eyebrow, looking at Lüqiu Qingfeng in a new light.

Her abilities were average, but she wasn’t foolish.

Their alliance had been founded on two things: holding leverage over each other in the matter of Lüqiu Jinyuan’s death, and mutually beneficial gains.

But after today, things had changed.

Now that he was a sect elder under the protection of the Jishan Sect, he no longer feared exposure of Lüqiu Jinyuan’s death.

Even if the truth came out, it couldn’t truly threaten him anymore.

That leverage was gone, and with it, the foundation of their alliance. Their deeper cooperation could no longer exist.

That was why Lüqiu Qingfeng now spoke of “trusting his character,” instead of mentioning old leverage or alliances.

She had quickly seen the shift in their relationship and adjusted her stance accordingly.

In practical terms, she softened her posture, offered congratulations, and ignored his earlier concealment.

"President Nangong, you may tell the Princess this: my friendship with her does not change with shifting power."

Wei Tu chose his words carefully, replying seriously.

Their ties could not deepen, but neither should they sour.

…

Hall Master Luo’s invitation carried weight for Wei Tu.

First, he needed to convey Sect Master Zhu’s quiet support for their side, reassuring Luo Guzhu. That was one reason Zhu spoke with him earlier.

Second, there was a personal matter.

He needed advice from Luo Guzhu on how to select and transition into Jishan Sect’s cultivation methods.

His greatest benefit as an Elder of Offering was the right to enter the Hall of Techniques and select one superior fourth-rank immortal cultivation method.

Although Wei Tu already possessed several fourth-rank techniques from inheritances like the Myriad Yin Sect, Golden Ghost King, and Lüqiu Clan, Jishan Sect was different.

Its superior fourth-rank methods connected directly to fifth-rank techniques—Divine Transformation-level methods.

To be precise, what he was preparing to choose was only the upper volume of a Divine Transformation method. Once he broke through to Divine Transformation, he could seamlessly continue cultivating the lower volume.

This decision would shape his entire future path.

So he had to be extremely cautious.

The cultivation world had many examples of juniors ignoring senior advice, picking recklessly, and ruining their own futures.

"Hmm… our sect’s superior fourth-rank methods don’t have many suitable for you. From what I observe, Elder Wei’s main cultivation should be wood-attribute?"

On Iron Hunt Peak, inside a side hall near the Hall of Law Enforcement, Luo Guzhu replied cautiously after hearing Wei Tu’s question.

The main cultivation method, including its elemental attribute, was not only a cultivator’s foundation but also the very root of their cultivation.

Though Luo Guzhu had no lack of experience in selecting or switching methods, he still had to treat this with utmost caution. If his guidance caused Wei Tu’s path to falter, it would be his fault.

"Correct, the method I cultivate, the Divine Wood Origin Technique, is indeed a wood-attribute method."

Wei Tu nodded as he replied.

He had once fought alongside Luo Guzhu at the Yin Ghost Sect’s mountain gate. That Luo Guzhu knew his cultivation attribute was only natural and nothing surprising.

"This Divine Wood Origin Technique is a third-rank superior method. According to the master who passed it down to me, there are higher-rank continuations. That’s why, until today, I haven’t abandoned it for another."

Wei Tu turned his palm, handing Luo Guzhu the original jade slip of the Divine Wood Origin Technique, obtained from Bao Siyan.

Though only third-rank superior, it contained a complete process for forming a Nascent Soul. So before reaching that stage, he hadn’t dared recklessly switch to something else.

Once he entered the Nascent Soul Realm, he had sought the continuation of the Divine Wood Origin Technique but never succeeded.

That wasted time had dragged on until today.

Now, since Jishan Sect offered better alternatives for transitioning, there was no need for him to keep searching for the technique’s missing later volumes.

"In that case… Luo suggests Elder Wei switch to the Origin Wood True Scripture."

After studying the Divine Wood Origin Technique for half a day, Luo Guzhu put down the jade slip, thought for a long while, then gave him a concrete suggestion.

"The Origin Wood True Scripture matches the attribute of your current technique. Switching won’t cost you much cultivation. More importantly, it’s one of the easier methods in our sect for breaking through to Divine Transformation."

"Its power is no less than any other method."

"Of course, I mean relatively easier. Its threshold is a bit lower than others."

Luo Guzhu explained carefully.

Hearing this, Wei Tu immediately expressed thanks and didn’t press further.

After all, he had yet to step into the Hall of Techniques. He knew nothing about the Origin Wood True Scripture. Since he had chosen to consult Luo Guzhu, there was no reason to question his judgment.

…

Half a day later.

Wei Tu bade Luo Guzhu farewell, then went to the Hall of Techniques and exchanged for the Origin Wood True Scripture.

"Condense the Origin Wood Dharmic Aspect… once the aspect is formed, Divine Transformation follows naturally."

Wei Tu studied the superior fourth-rank technique, focusing on its recorded method for breaking through to Divine Transformation, along with its accumulated experience.

According to the scripture—

The Dharmic Aspect was a unique divine ability of Divine Transformation cultivators, just like the out-of-body Nascent Soul was to the Nascent Soul Realm.

But unlike the out-of-body soul, which was instinctive, the Dharmic Aspect was a “manifestation” of a cultivator’s power at Divine Transformation.

Divine Transformation was the ultimate limit of Nascent Soul.

For body cultivators, the extreme of strength was condensing a Spirit Body.

For immortal cultivators, the extreme of power was manifesting the Nascent Soul externally into a Dharmic Aspect, achieving "law as vast as heaven and earth."

But that was only the principle.

The process itself was mysterious and obscure.

The Origin Wood True Scripture clarified exactly how, after reaching late Nascent Soul, one could push power to the extreme, condense the Dharmic Aspect, and then break through to Divine Transformation.

The steps of condensing the Origin Wood Dharmic Aspect were the very process of breaking through.

This was the foundation of a Divine Transformation sect like Jishan, and the scripture’s greatest value.

"The process is clear, but reaching the end is never easy. Otherwise, Sect Master Zhu, the thirteen hall masters, and the five peak masters would all already be Divine Transformation cultivators…"

Wei Tu shook his head.

In short, having a "Divine Transformation method" made the path smoother, but the final barrier was still a sheer cliff.

Only those who truly reached their limit could cross it as if walking on flat ground.

Of course, this cliff’s height wasn’t fixed.

For instance, the Origin Wood True Scripture he had switched to had a slightly lower difficulty compared to other methods.

"Divine Transformation is within reach!"

Several days later, after finishing his study of the Origin Wood True Scripture, Wei Tu exhaled deeply.

Unlike ordinary cultivators, every step he had taken in the Nascent Soul Realm was solid.

At early Nascent Soul, he already broke past limits, reaching "three inches and seven."

At mid Nascent Soul, he would again break limits, aiming to reach the very peak of that stage.

In other words, as long as he followed the path steadily, breaking through to Divine Transformation was only a matter of time.

There were indeed so-called miraculous pills to aid breakthroughs at this realm, but those were mostly for cultivators with shaky foundations.

For Wei Tu, no elixir could compare to his Golden Purple Destiny.

After all, the key to this breakthrough lay in reaching the extreme.

And his Golden Purple Destiny’s very function was tied to that.

…

After obtaining the Origin Wood True Scripture, Wei Tu hung a "No Visitors" plaque on Linglong Peak, went into seclusion, and began wholeheartedly switching his cultivation method.

Time passed quickly, years slipped by like flowing water.

Two years later—

The grand ceremony of paying homage to Venerable Hanyue arrived on schedule.

Lüqiu Qingfeng led her delegation, offered tribute, paid respects to Venerable Hanyue, and then departed from Jishan Sect, heading toward Little Huan Palace.

Before leaving, Lüqiu Qingfeng had personally come to Linglong Peak, intending to visit Wei Tu. But when she saw the plaque hanging high, she did not disturb him. She only left a letter before hurrying away.

After the grand ceremony ended, Jishan Sect returned to its previous "calm." Yet every cultivator within the sect knew that the struggle between Luo Guzhu of the Hall of Law Enforcement and Feng Guzhu of the Hall of Merit had only grown fiercer.

In the process, both factions suffered losses, with heavy casualties.

Another four years passed.

That day, Wei Tu, who had been in seclusion for a long time, finally walked out of his chamber. His appearance was unchanged, but his aura was deeper than it had been seven years ago.

"Almost broke through to late Nascent Soul…"

Wei Tu glanced inward at his dantian, where his green Nascent Soul had already grown to six inches and seven, and let out a sigh of relief.

When he first switched techniques, he had indeed lost some cultivation. But thanks to his abundant resources, that loss was quickly replenished and even surpassed.

However, at that time, because of his unfamiliarity with the new Origin Wood True Scripture, he nearly lost control. He almost stopped consolidating his foundation and pushed straight into late Nascent Soul.

Fortunately, Ancestor Chilong had reminded him in time. Only then did he wake up and quickly restrain his breakthrough.

"Still, as the saying goes, water flows naturally into a channel."

"This time, I can’t suppress it for too long. My sea of qi is too full, my dantian is already struggling to contain it. At most twenty years, I won’t be able to hold it back anymore."

Wei Tu frowned, his gaze turning toward the direction of the Red Algae Sea.

He did have a solution to this problem.

That was to follow his original plan—refine the Plastic Qi Pill. By relying on its medicinal power, he could break past the Nascent Soul limit and in one surge step into late Nascent Soul.

But…

He didn’t know whether Xue Hongmian had finished collecting the auxiliary herbs he had ordered for refining the Plastic Qi Pill.

Moreover, he and Xue Hongmian were far apart—one in the Outer Void Sea, one in the Inner Void Sea. Even if she had gathered the herbs, it would be difficult to deliver them to him.

Of course, he could use Jishan Sect’s long-distance teleportation array to return to the Red Algae Sea.

But now, with enemies like Feng Han constantly watching him, leaving would almost certainly lead to an "accident," just as Sect Master Zhu had warned when calling him bait.

He was not ready yet to face that kind of death tribulation.

"I can only ask Luo Guzhu for help again."

After some thought, Wei Tu summoned his light and flew straight toward Luo Guzhu’s Iron Hunt Peak.

The auxiliary herbs for the Plastic Qi Pill were not rare for Nascent Soul cultivators, only troublesome to collect and time-consuming.

Otherwise, he would not have left this matter to the Earth Spider Matriarch, Xue Hongmian.

So his thinking was simple—

There was no need to insist on gathering the herbs in the Red Algae Sea.

With the resources of a Divine Transformation sect like Jishan, he did not believe it impossible to assemble them quickly.

…

"Auxiliary herbs for the Plastic Qi Pill?"

Hearing Wei Tu’s request in the Hall of Law Enforcement on Iron Hunt Peak, Luo Guzhu wasn’t surprised. He had already heard from the Lüqiu Clan that Wei Tu was a fourth-rank alchemist.

But learning that Wei Tu planned to use this pill to break into late Nascent Soul still left Luo Guzhu shocked for a long time.

From what he knew—

Wei Tu’s age was barely seven hundred years.

A late Nascent Soul at seven hundred… even within the Six Sects of the Profound Dao, such cases were extremely rare. Let alone for a rogue cultivator from the Outer Void Sea.